Tiedonantaja Festival 19.-20.10.2024 in Vantaa, Finland - Program in english

Tiedonantaja Festival will once again bring together activists, researchers, politicians, artists and international guests from different fields to look for alternative ways out of wars, environmental crises and media biases. The programme includes debates, presentations, workshops and of course culture and music! The festival will take place over one weekend at the Myyräncolo cultural centre in Vantaa's Myyrmäki, Finland. See arrival and accessibility instructions at the bottom of this page.

 
PROGRAM

Saturday 19.10. at 11:30 - Skenesali

Festival opening

 

Saturday 19.10. 12-14.30 - Skenesali

Opening debate on Europe, peace and international issues

Member of the Political Secretariat of the European Left Maite Mola and Beatriz Parra González, Finnish Ambassador to Cuba, will be guests at the international opening debate. Also in the debate will be Tiina Sandberg, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Finland. The moderator is Petra Packalén, editor-in-chief of Tiedonantaja.

The debate will also include contributions in English. Simultaneous interpretation from English into Finnish will be provided by Zoom. If you need interpretation, please bring a technical device (smartphone, tablet or computer) and your own headphones to Myyräncolo, so you can connect to Zoom and follow the interpretation through the headphones. We will guide you through the set-up of the interpretation.

 

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Saturday 19.10. from 14.00 to 15.30 - Room 2

Peace and Immigration Policy

 

Tapio Siirilä talks about the UN Refugee Convention and the Finnish government's refugee policy. Speech from the perspective of an immigrant:

Miguel López to speak from a migrant's perspective (how was the attitude in the 1980s and how has it changed in the present day)

 

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Saturday 19.10. at 14.00-15.30 - Room 3

Africa's last colony: Western Sahara

 

Illegally occupied by Morocco, Western Sahara is still fighting for self-determination, peace and a referendum on independence. Colonial Morocco has an "autonomy plan" for Western Sahara, which was backed by the Finnish Foreign Ministry in August. Morocco's illegitimate plans must be replaced by stronger efforts to dismantle colonialism as agreed in the UN and to cooperate with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

The debate will raise awareness of the current situation in Western Sahara and the work of the Sahrawi Liberation Front Polisario and the solidarity movements. The debate will be held in English and Finnish.

The speaker will be Western Sahara activist Baida Rahal.

 

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Saturday 19.10. at 16.00-17.30 - Room 2

Do you need a car here?

 

Debate on public transport and private cars. Themes: alternatives and funding for the expansion of public transport, emotions and personalities in transport policy and the implementation of ecological change in transport, getting away from the imposition of the private car, turning harmful confrontations and aggressions into the pursuit of the common good.

The discussion participants are traffic planner Emilia Taskinen and deputy member of City of Pori's Technical Committee, Akira Siivonen. The debate is facilitated by Heikki Ekman, district secretary of the Uusimaa district of Communist Party of Finland.

 

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Saturday 19.10. from 16.00 to 17.30 - Room 3

Theology of Liberation

 

This discussion will reflect on the inspiration offered by liberation theology and its impact on issues of inequality, human rights and peace in social progress. Liberation theology, which originated particularly in Latin America in the mid-20th century, focuses on the defence of the poor and oppressed and the realisation of justice in society. The thinking has a Marxist angle. From the perspective of the Church and spiritual people, it calls for a critical assessment of how the Christian faith can promote equality and rights for all people. The debate will examine what kind of church could be a democratic and active player in defending human rights and building peace, and what changes this could bring to both spiritual and social life.

The speakers are Elina Vuola, Professor of Global Christianity and Religious Dialogue at the University of Helsinki, and Christian tuba player Arvo Lehtomäki.

The debate is organised by the Democratic Union for Culture.

 

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Sunday 20.10. at 11.00-13.30 - Skenesali

What's next for the trade union movement?

 

The discussion will focus on the current labour market situation, the impact of government policy on the trade union movement and strategies for the near future, now that the strike laws and many of the changes to working life have been passed. The debate will also hear and discuss policy options and visions for the social situation, such as the Better Working Time initiative.

Speakers include STTK President Antti Palola, SuPer union's President Päivi Inberg and system expert, young active of JHL union Eemeli Issakoff. The debate will be moderated by Jiri Mäntysalo, leader of the SKP trade unionists' working group.

 

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Sunday 20.10. from 11:00 to 12:30 - Room 2

Free Free Palestine!

Israel's illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories continues. Recognition of Palestinian independence is necessary in the face of the genocide in Gaza.

Speakers include a Palestinian teacher from Gaza University.

 

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Sunday 20.10. from 14:00 to 15:30 - Skenesali

Forest Debate

 

An environmental debate on forests: carbon sinks and carbon stocks, clear-cutting, CO2 emissions and biodiversity. Major forest fires caused by climate change (drought and heat). Private ownership of forests - how to implement large-scale forest measures? What are the main issues concerning forests?

The debate will be led by biologist Timo Jalkanen.

 

 

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Access and accessibility

 

Myyräncolo is right next to Myyrmäki station. Myyrmäki can be reached by the suburban I and P trains. If you come by VR trains, you can buy a ticket directly to Myyrmäki. Otherwise: if you are coming from Helsinki Central Station, you should take the P train via Myyrmäki. HSL commuter services are divided into ABCD zones, and Myyrmäki is a B zone. From Helsinki Central Station you need an AB ticket, from Tikkurila a BC ticket. The most convenient way to buy a ticket is via the HSL mobile app, but tickets are also sold at ticket machines (card or coins) at train stations. You will need the ticket before boarding the train. You can find the HSL route guide on the mobile app or here: https://www.hsl.fi

There are events in three locations (Skenesali, space 2 in the basement next to Skenesali & space 3 on the street level). There is a staircase to the Skenesaal - accessible access can be arranged by a detour using the lift and ramp (access via the lift in the Myyräncolo lobby to the basement, where the ramp to the Skenesaal is), please contact us in advance: jiri.mantysalo@desili.fi, 040 413 0997. The same way is also accessible to room 2. There is an accessible toilet at street level in the lobby of the entrance to the hall. There is a threshold at the entrance to the lobby, which is accessible with assistance. Room 3 on street level is accessed from the outside on the other side of Myyräncolo - low threshold at the door. Unfortunately no induction loops, soundproofing, floor tiles or braille.

 

See you in Vantaa, comrades and friends!

 

Contributors to the Tiedonantaja Festival include:

Tiedonantaja

Euroopan vasemmisto (European Left)

Demokraattinen sivistysliitto

Suomen kommunistinen puolue

Kommunistinuoret ry

Spartacus-säätiö